SCOTTS VALLEY

Music at Skypark concert Sunday

The free communitywide "Music at Skypark" benefit concert series returns for its second concert from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Skypark in Scotts Valley, featuring the folk rock sound of Ben Lomond's Jamie and Kellen Coffis, The Coffis Brothers.

Scary Little Friends, with Southern soul roots, melodies and harmonies, will open the concert. Local businesses and volunteers will offer for sale a variety of barbecue meat and vegetarian sandwiches, pizza, desserts, beer and wine and other picnic foods, with the net proceeds going to the schools to support music programs. Now in its sixth year, the family-friendly Music at Skypark has raised over $80,000 for public schools. Music at Skypark is presented by Kiwanis of the Valleys.

For information, visit www.KiwanisoftheValleys.

Santa Cruz

Dominican facility reclassified as outpatient

The Dignity Health Dominican Hospital rehab facility at 610 Frederick St. has been reclassified as an outpatient facility and thus is not subject to the same seismic standards as acute care hospitals, according to Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dominican Hospital president.

Mickiewicz was asked about the facility's status in light of a 6.0 earthquake in Napa and state mandates for hospitals to meet seismic safety standards enacted after prior quakes.

In February 2013, Dominican announced plans to shutter the Frederick Street facility by the end of the year, and several programs were relocated and a 30-bed skilled nursing unit closed.

SANTA CRUZ

Hope Services hosts e-waste collection

Donors are welcome to bring computers, TVs, flat screen, CRTs, wire, stereo, medical devices, cell phones and all other electronic devices — with batteries taken out — to HOPE Services, 220 Lincoln St.

For information, call 831-600-1510.

SANTA CRUZ

Labor Day travel expected to increase

AAA predicts more than 3.9 million Californians will travel 50 miles or more from their homes this three-day Labor Day weekend, up 1.6 percent compared to last year.

"Californians are more optimistic about their financial situation, and consumer spending continues to outpace disposable income," said AAA Northern California spokeswoman Cynthia Harris. "This indicates that Californians are willing to take on debt to finance their end-of-the summer getaway."

The biggest increase is expected in auto travel. More than 3.1 million are expected to drive to their destination, up 1.9 percent from last year, 500,000 flying, up .5 percent, and 290,000 taking rail, bus and watercraft, up 0.2 percent.

Hotel rates at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to average $171 per night, up 6.0 percent from a year ago. Weekend car rentals are expected to remain the same, averaging $51 a day.

Santa Cruz

Leading botanist to talk at UC Santa Cruz

Leading botanist, advocate of conservation and biodiversity, and president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden will present a talk, "Saving Plants, Saving Ourselves" at 7 p.m., Sept. 9.

Dr. Peter Raven will come to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum to talk on the importance of protecting the global botanical diversity.

Admittance is free for UC Santa Cruz students, $5 for Arboretum members, and $10 for nonmembers. Organizers expect this to be a well-attended event. Register online at arboretum.ucsc.edu to reserve a seat ahead of time.